Latest posts by Afef Abrougui
Lebanese journalist goes on trial for covering migrant worker abuse allegations

Lebanon's Cybercrimes Bureau also asked him to sign a pledge to not speak about the case again, but he refused.
Meet the women's rights activists behind bars in Saudi Arabia

On International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, human rights organisations continue to call for the release of jailed Saudi women activists.
How will Google plug into China’s all-encompassing internet censorship regime?

How far is Google willing to go to get the Chinese government's blessing?
Algerian TV network director files defamation case against independent journalists

"When we denounce corruption and favouritism, it’s an act of patriotism....we are an actor of stability, seeking to drive the country in the right direction".
Israa Al-Ghomgham, a Saudi woman facing the death penalty for peaceful protest

Al-Ghomgham, and many other Saudi Shiites, took to the streets in 2011 to demand better rights.
Arrested in Saudi Arabia, and then disappeared: Yemeni writer Marwan Almuraisy

In the authoritarian kingdom, the crackdown against independent voices has escalated under Mohammed Bin Salman's rule.
When will Egypt release photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid aka Shawkan?

More than one month after a Cairo court verdict that many saw as the end to his ordeal, Shawkan remains in jail.
South Asian governments keep ordering internet shutdowns — and leaving users in the dark

“Operators owe complete transparency to their users, as consumers who are paying them money and also in the interest of accountability.”
Killing speech softly: How the world’s biggest tech companies are quietly censoring critical expression in the Middle East

The failures of tech giants in moderating content in the region is a big and complex problem.
Access denied: How Uganda’s social media tax is turning news and information into luxury goods

For Uganda’s poorest residents, the new tax raises internet connection costs by 10%.
‘If it isn’t recorded, it didn’t happen': Israel moves to restrict photo documentation of military activity

Israeli legislators are pushing two bills that would further restrict speech by activists and journalists critical of its policies in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory.
Algerian blogger sentenced to ten years in prison, in another blow to free expression

Prior to his arrest, Touati covered anti-austerity strikes and job protests, and rights violations committed by Algerian authorities.
Tunisian journalists say police union attacks are having a chilling effect on press freedom

Impunity for abuses committed by security forces and police unions "is almost becoming a norm," according to the syndicate of Tunisian journalists.
Telcos must disclose more data about internet shutdowns, say civil society groups

New research shows that the world's largest telecommunications companies disclose little to no information about their network shutdown policies and practices.
Tunisian MPs Propose Legislation Criminalising ‘Cyber Defamation’

"This bill is the result of a repressive mindset restrictive of freedoms, reflecting a nostalgia for the dictatorship era".
Tunisian Security Forces Target Journalists Covering Anti-Austerity Protests

The press in Tunisia is "too free," Tunisian president Essebsi said at a joint press conference with French president Macron on 31 January.
Caught in Conflict, Internet Users in Yemen Face Blocking, Shutdowns and Slow Speed

Authorities in Yemen have a long history of imposing restrictions on freedom of expression and the right to access information.
Jordanian Cartoonist Goes to Trial For Drawing Jesus

The cartoon commented on the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, which sold church property to Israeli settler groups to pay off church debt.
Moroccan Journalists Keep Fighting to Cover the Hirak Movement, Despite State Intimidation

Journalists reporting on the Hirak protests are facing a myriad of restrictions.
In Algeria, Two Imprisoned Bloggers Go on Hunger Strike

Freedom of expression and press freedom are under attack in Algeria.
A Yemeni Political Analyst Has Been Held By Houthi Rebels Since August, With No Explanation

Hisham Al-Omeisy is a crucial voice on the ongoing war in Yemen, and its humanitarian cost.